Dinamo Zagreb Striker Sent off After 10 Seconds in Champions League Match

The Champions League isn't even up and running at the group stage yet, but already it is providing plenty of flash points for fans to talk about.

Dinamo Zagreb striker Ante Rukavina might be wishing he hadn't been handed the opportunity to feature in it this season, though, as he was sent off just 10 seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute on Wednesday.

His side was playing a home-leg qualifier against Austria Wien and trailing 1-0. He was sent on in place of Duje Cop with the hope that he would have an impact on the game. It probably wasn't quite what his manager had in mind, though, as he immediately clattered into Wien defender Kaja Rogulj and was shown a red card.

English referee Howard Webb deemed the offence a dangerous high challenge, with Rukavina going in with his studs into his opponent's hip while jumping.

Rukavina has been at Zagreb for three seasons and has featured in the Champions League group stages for them, though he has yet to score a goal at that stage.

Following his rapid red card against Austria Wien, his team eventually went on to lose the first leg by a 2-0 scoreline, meaning he isn't likely to get the chance to rectify that statistic this year.

UEFA.com lists Dinamo Zagreb as having only one red card in 24 Champions League matches, which does not include qualifiers such as the game Rukavina's offence took place in. There were 20 red cards during the competition proper last season, with Manchester United's Nani being sent off to general incredulity against Real Madrid.

Follow @karlmatchett

The Champions League isn't even up and running at the group stage yet, but already it is providing plenty of flash points for fans to talk about.

Dinamo Zagreb striker Ante Rukavina might be wishing he hadn't been handed the opportunity to feature in it this season though, as he was sent off just 10 seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute on Wednesday.

His side was playing a home leg qualifier against Austria Wien and trailing 1-0. He was sent on in place of Duje Cop with the hope that he would have an impact on the game. It probably wasn't quite what his manager had in mind, though, as he immediately clattered into Wien defender Kaja Rogulj, and was shown a red card.

English referee Howard Webb deemed the offence a dangerous high challenge with Rukavina going in with his studs into his opponent's hip while jumping in mid-air.

Rukavina has been at Zagreb for three seasons and has featured in the Champions League group stages for them, though he has yet to score a goal at that stage.

Following his rapid red card against Austria Wien, his team eventually went on to lose the first leg by a 2-0 scoreline, meaning he isn't likely to get the chance to rectify that statistic this year.

UEFA.com lists Dinamo Zagreb as having only had one red card in 24 Champions League matches, which does not include qualifiers such as the game Rukavina's offence took place in. There were 20 red cards during the competition proper last season, with Manchester United's Nani being sent offto general incredulity against Real Madrid.

Follow @karlmatchett